A Mark In Time
Mark Knopfler Discussion => Mark Knopfler Discussion Forum => Topic started by: Jarle on October 02, 2018, 08:45:52 PM
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The Norwegian broadcaster NRK just published an interview with Mark from BG with the following opening:
Mark Knopfler says life as touring musician is nearing the end when he now releases his ninth solo album.
Sad to read, really...
And it follows: The tours are probably the part of the artist career that will "kill me". I have to decide how long I can continue with it.
https://www.nrk.no/kultur/mark-knopfler-til-nrk_-_-jeg-kjedet-meg-i-dire-straits-1.14230793
I am a bit sorry to bring you this...
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Very sad indeed but I think we all saw it coming, he's turning 70 years old next year! I'm just incredibly happy there will be a tour next year and I might attend some more gigs than previous tours due to this news.
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oh Mark :'(
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largely expected I guess
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Pretty sombre interview altogether really. :(
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Pretty sombre interview altogether really. :(
Yes indeed. And suddenly the grumpy promo pics make sense. I really wonder if there are health issues that let him make the decision to be so open about this matter.
LE
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Pretty sombre interview altogether really. :(
just like the promo pics
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I am a bit surprised that he says it this way. I always thought that he just would continue as long as he could, and then just stop without further notice. Now it seems that he is about to make a choice...
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Judging by the quality of recent tours it's a very wise choice, for which I respect Mark even more. He's Scottish after all, take a look at Sean Connery. He lives an extremely happy life without the need to play in shitty movies. I have to say, that looking at old musicians to me is a truly devastating experience. When you know that they're trying hard, but struggle and you can see it and feel it. Take a look at Brian Wilson, this is the man who should've stop touring worldwide a decade ago. It's like a boxer who stays in the ring for too long.
Mark should take a lesson from guys like Van Morrison, who doesn't have a "world tour" and he doesn't need to play only to support albums. I'm tired about his usual schedule and would be more happy to see him in smaller venues, etc.
Paul Simon played his final show of his final farewell tour on 22 September. And so what? He will be on TV on his birthday on Oct 13!
So end of world tours is not the end of the world, if you know what I mean. Take it easy!
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Yes but it's pretty "right-in-your-face" to suddenly hear him talking this way after all those hundreds of Interviews where he told us that he loves it and he will be doing it as long as he falls over. "It" seems to be without playing live in the future after 2019 it seems. So one last Chance to get good recordings of songs that he never played before. I was not sure if I would go, but these are new perspectives of course that change it all.
LE
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I think hes just being realistic. Hes got around 120 gigs+travel ahead. Add 3 -4 years til the next album and porential tour I guess he will have to see by then if he is healty and motivated to do another huge tour. Much less can also do.
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After so many tours, so many shows, even when the touring has become extremely well planned, a lot easier and a lot more luxurious, it becomes routine. Been there, done that, kind of thing. And it gets boring. For people like Mark, creating is key, and touring therefore becomes a duty. In and out of planes and hotels, soundchecks, the static setlists, etc. It's a job. For sure it beats working at McDonald's, but when you're successful and wealthy and can actually choose to do whatever you want, why would you do boring work? Plus the man is turning 70 and has nothing more to prove, and he honestly doesn't owe anything to the fans either.
I applaud Mark's honesty, and I think we can expect some cool projects down the line now that he can free up resources by not having to tour as extensively. One era ends, and another begins.
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After so many tours, so many shows, even when the touring has become extremely well planned, a lot easier and a lot more luxurious, it becomes routine. Been there, done that, kind of thing. And it gets boring. For people like Mark, creating is key, and touring therefore becomes a duty. In and out of planes and hotels, soundchecks, the static setlists, etc. It's a job. For sure it beats working at McDonald's, but when you're successful and wealthy and can actually choose to do whatever you want, why would you do boring work? Plus the man is turning 70 and has nothing more to prove, and he honestly doesn't owe anything to the fans either.
I applaud Mark's honesty, and I think we can expect some cool projects down the line now that he can free up resources by not having to tour as extensively. One era ends, and another begins.
Interviews and musician's words convinced me that Mark organised last 2 or 3 tours solely for a purpose of writing songs on the go, so maybe he was able to find other ways to write more songs and can't rely on touring as much :lol
I write some music occasionally and usually I'm best at it while nobody's home or I'm out of home, so I bet Mark will travel like crazy instead of touring. You still can find him in surprising locations and restaurants all over the world, so it makes sense. Portugal, Spain, Italy... I'd be more happy to live like that rather that to be able to go touring with sound-alike shows for 3-4 times in a row. Go Mark, go!
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Yes but it's pretty "right-in-your-face" to suddenly hear him talking this way after all those hundreds of Interviews where he told us that he loves it and he will be doing it as long as he falls over. "It" seems to be without playing live in the future after 2019 it seems. So one last Chance to get good recordings of songs that he never played before. I was not sure if I would go, but these are new perspectives of course that change it all.
LE
There's nothing worse to a musician than not being able to play at all and even just not being able to play as before is very tough.
Maybe he's thinking at it and he's a bit depressed.
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Yes but it's pretty "right-in-your-face" to suddenly hear him talking this way after all those hundreds of Interviews where he told us that he loves it and he will be doing it as long as he falls over. "It" seems to be without playing live in the future after 2019 it seems. So one last Chance to get good recordings of songs that he never played before. I was not sure if I would go, but these are new perspectives of course that change it all.
LE
There's nothing worse to a musician than not being able to play at all and even just not being able to play as before is very tough.
Maybe he's thinking at it and he's a bit depressed.
If I understand the interview correctly, he says that, because he has made songwriting his priority, he has paid less attention to his guitar playing. So his lesser ability to play may be a result of age/health and choice.
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He might had liked very much the experience of writting a musical and maybe has considered that touring needs too much time nowadays, time that he could spend with other different things he didn't try yet...
In the other hand, there is no need of retire of playing live. Eric Clapton is retired of touring in the terms MK tours, but he still play around ten concerts per year between the RAH, LA or NY and other places like Germany. Considering that already many MK fans travel to the RAH to see him play live, he doesn´t have to tour, just book the RAH for a week when he wants or can...
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After so many tours, so many shows, even when the touring has become extremely well planned, a lot easier and a lot more luxurious, it becomes routine. Been there, done that, kind of thing. And it gets boring. For people like Mark, creating is key, and touring therefore becomes a duty. In and out of planes and hotels, soundchecks, the static setlists, etc. It's a job. For sure it beats working at McDonald's, but when you're successful and wealthy and can actually choose to do whatever you want, why would you do boring work? Plus the man is turning 70 and has nothing more to prove, and he honestly doesn't owe anything to the fans either.
I applaud Mark's honesty, and I think we can expect some cool projects down the line now that he can free up resources by not having to tour as extensively. One era ends, and another begins.
It is almost the same what i think and I would agree on most of that (btw, i would rather say "it's becoming routine).
"Panta Rhei"! ;)
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Maybe he's tired playing the same old shit, night after night, tour after tour.
If he played a more varied set maybe he'd go on longer.
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Maybe he's tired playing the same old shit, night after night, tour after tour.
If he played a more varied set maybe he'd go on longer.
It's not exactly like there's a lack of songs to choose from either.
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Not surprised as MK tours are condensed.
But I can't imagine he will fully stop from performing on stage.
So...
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Maybe he's tired playing the same old shit, night after night, tour after tour.
If he played a more varied set maybe he'd go on longer.
My thoughts exactly. It can't inspire him much. ::)
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If I understand the interview right, it’s the physical side of touring that’s the problem, not the inspirational. But of course ...
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You could clearly hear and see it from mid-tour in 2015 that he was exhausted. More than at earlier tours.
LE
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You could clearly hear and see it from mid-tour in 2015 that he was exhausted. More than at earlier tours.
LE
yes, way too many concerts imo
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You could clearly hear and see it from mid-tour in 2015 that he was exhausted. More than at earlier tours.
LE
yes, way too many concerts imo
Perhaps in the future something like 3 weeks in Europe a break and 3 weeks in the US?
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You could clearly hear and see it from mid-tour in 2015 that he was exhausted. More than at earlier tours.
LE
Indeed, yet it took him about a month into the tour before his playing was sharp. A GH-style tour with better pre-tour warm-up would suit him better. Also if he played a more varied set it would keep his concentration levels higher.
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Also, a two-hour set is a long set. So maybe a 1.5-hour set with less filler songs would be good for him? I'd take quality over quantity any day.
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2 hours is short compared to other artists of the same age
he just needs to take many more pauses during the tour
as Johh McCusker reported, in the last tour they were in 3 different places within 24hours, totally absurd schedule, relax man
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2 hours is short compared to other artists of the same age
he just needs to take many more pauses during the tour
as Johh McCusker reported, in the last tour they were in 3 different places within 24hours, totally absurd schedule, relax man
Correct. That's just too hectic. It's far easier playing a residency like at the RAH but the real exhaustion is travelling.
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It seems to be planned totally tight moneywise. In 2010, when they reached Europe and decided to keep Mike in the band, coincidentally the same day they suddenly started to sell the concert downloads, without announcing it before. My theory was that another band member had to be paid and therefore MK gave his ok. Same with the schedule. It seems every single show is necessary to make it run.
LE
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fan question:
Good morning Guy,
Since there’s been a lot of buzz about the retirement from touring thing… are you guys gonna do another tour before you wrap up, right? I obviously respect whatever thing you decide to do, since you’ve given us a lot already & I think we all agree on this one. I personally would love to see you live & I’m sure It would be such an amazing thing to tell my grandkids in the future.
Thank you for all you do & have always done.
Anna
guys reply:We are planning on touring next year, yes.
still a bit vague to me...of course the man can't say much...still..
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fan question:
Good morning Guy,
Since there’s been a lot of buzz about the retirement from touring thing… are you guys gonna do another tour before you wrap up, right? I obviously respect whatever thing you decide to do, since you’ve given us a lot already & I think we all agree on this one. I personally would love to see you live & I’m sure It would be such an amazing thing to tell my grandkids in the future.
Thank you for all you do & have always done.
Anna
guys reply:We are planning on touring next year, yes.
still a bit vague to me...of course the man can't say much...still..
A little bit disappointing that his answer isn't just "yes".
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The question was wrong. We all know there would be a next tour in 2019. Is after that tour that MK is thinking about it. Guy had the easiest answer ever.
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It seems to be planned totally tight moneywise. In 2010, when they reached Europe and decided to keep Mike in the band, coincidentally the same day they suddenly started to sell the concert downloads, without announcing it before. My theory was that another band member had to be paid and therefore MK gave his ok. Same with the schedule. It seems every single show is necessary to make it run.
LE
Yes, you are probably right. Good observation! Every business has a budget. If your goal isn’t profit, but for instance to keep ticket prizes low and have a comfortable and happy time while touring, you have to do something to increase income to pay for new unplanned costs.
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The question was wrong. We all know there would be a next tour in 2019. Is after that tour that MK is thinking about it. Guy had the easiest answer ever.
Although they say they are always looking forward i bet Guy is going to ignore/avoid every question about a possible tour after 2019.
Personally i hope they will keep on going but in a much smaller scale. Like a few concerts in the UK together with some concerts in countries like Germany, Italy Spain Holland Belgium and France.....Like i said before, a 3 weeks tour in Europe/UK and something simalar in the US.
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The question was wrong. We all know there would be a next tour in 2019. Is after that tour that MK is thinking about it. Guy had the easiest answer ever.
Although they say they are always looking forward i bet Guy is going to ignore/avoid every question about a possible tour after 2019.
Personally i hope they will keep on going but in a much smaller scale. Like a few concerts in the UK together with some concerts in countries like Germany, Italy Spain Holland Belgium and France.....Like i said before, a 3 weeks tour in Europe/UK and something simalar in the US.
The thing is that MK has been very vague about it. He didn't say he's not touring no more. Just that he did have to think about it. So until next tour ends and he start thinking in next project he wouldn't think about if he tours again...
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The question was wrong. We all know there would be a next tour in 2019. Is after that tour that MK is thinking about it. Guy had the easiest answer ever.
Although they say they are always looking forward i bet Guy is going to ignore/avoid every question about a possible tour after 2019.
Personally i hope they will keep on going but in a much smaller scale. Like a few concerts in the UK together with some concerts in countries like Germany, Italy Spain Holland Belgium and France.....Like i said before, a 3 weeks tour in Europe/UK and something simalar in the US.
The thing is that MK has been very vague about it. He didn't say he's not touring no more. Just that he did have to think about it. So until next tour ends and he start thinking in next project he wouldn't think about if he tours again...
Of course he's being vague. He's just the same as everyone - he can't say with certainty what lies ahead!
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The question was wrong. We all know there would be a next tour in 2019. Is after that tour that MK is thinking about it. Guy had the easiest answer ever.
Although they say they are always looking forward i bet Guy is going to ignore/avoid every question about a possible tour after 2019.
Personally i hope they will keep on going but in a much smaller scale. Like a few concerts in the UK together with some concerts in countries like Germany, Italy Spain Holland Belgium and France.....Like i said before, a 3 weeks tour in Europe/UK and something simalar in the US.
A young lad goes into the doctor’s office and says that his body hurts wherever he touches it.
“Impossible,” says the doctor. “Show me.”
he takes his finger and pushes his elbow and screams in agony. He pushes his knee and screams, pushes his ankle and screams and so it goes on, everywhere he touches makes him scream when the doctor says, “I thought so,” he says. “Your finger is broken.”
got it, right?
it has nothing to do with the nation states.
:wave